Folding box



Dec. 17, 1929. D. NELsoN 1,739,853

FOLDING Box wines/5;

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FOLDING Box 'Filed March 14. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ZZ y fJZ 59.5 l `JNHUHHHIHIHNimmmWwW/U Z1 Z5 lz 71157* Win65@ f77/U6 I' anzel JVeZspn.

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNED DANIEL NELSON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MARSHALL FIELD* AN'Dy CO'M- IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS .FOLDING` BOX Application filed March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,053.

This invention relates to folding boxes, and more particularly to paper or cardboard boxes which are adapted to be folded flat for storage and shipment, and are capable of being quickly opened and set up at the time of packing merchandise.

rlhe features of most importance in a box of this type are to have one which is economically manufactured, will be capable of folding to a flat form so that it may be shipped and `stored without consuming a lot of space, and'which may be readily set up at the time the merchandise is being packed.

It is particularly advantageous to eliminate a complicated setting up operation as this frequently necessitates a special operation in the shipping departments and stores to set up the boxesv and prepare them for subsequent packing because the time allowed for packing is very limited during rush timesy and is notsufhcient to permit setting up of the boxes at the time of packing, where the operation is complicated and slow. y

It is also desirable to provide a box that is adequately reinforced throughout its side walls and consequently one which will not collapse orloseits shape when in use.

To this end, I have provided a box which may be of one or two pieces, as for the top and bottom, and which may be quickly set up at thel time it is being packed. Y

IV have further provided a box which is adequately reinfoced, the reinforcing being more uniformly distributed through the side walls to afford strength around the entire package.

l have also providedY a box having top and bottom portions either separate or in one piece,in which one of the portions comprises a main panel havingside and end panels, the side panels being provided with end flaps, said flaps and panels all being folded inwardly to render the box flat suitable for shipment and storage, in which position a tendency to seek and remain injan unfolded position is imparted to the parts whereby through the inherent resilience of the material they resist outward movement, the above mentioned tendency together with the formation and relationship of the part-s,

operating to permit a quick setting up action Y in a manner hereinafter described; also, in which the top portion may comprise a main panel either connected to theI bottom portion` or separate therefrom, which has side flaps having a tendency to seek and remain in. an unfolded position effected by the inward folding as when folded for shipment or storage, which will cause the flap to overlie and tightlyv hug the sides of the bottom portion when placed thereon. t

These and other advantages are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- J Y Figurel is a plan view of the blank from which the box isV formed, showing the cuts and the scored folding lines; Y

Figure. 2 is a plan view of the box in partially folded condition as it will be folded at the time vof shipment and in a manner to provide the necessary bias for the side walls and flaps;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box, out away from onecorner to show the relationship of the flap and side walls;

Figure t is a cross-sectional plan View of Figure 8 taken on the line 4 4; and

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional viewy a one-piece box designated generally as v10,

but may be applied equally well to al twopiece box. The box shown comprises labottom portion 11 and a top portion 12, the bottom portion comprising a main panel 13 having side panels 11i-14 and end panels 15 and 16. The end panel 16 forms a common connection between the main panel 12 of the top and the main panel 13 of the bottom. The ends of the side panels 14 are provided with 'liaps 17 connected by a score forming a hinge 18 and being cut as at 19 from the edge of the end panels 15 and 16. The end panels 14E are also hinged by suitable scores of the material and the end panels 15 and 16 are likewise hinged as at 21. The other end of the panel 16 is provided with a score 22 which forms a hinge between the end panel 16 and the main panel 12 of the top, and the top is further provided with side panels 23 which are hinged thereto by means of the scores 24. The box is initially stamped as shown in Figure 1 and then through suitable mechanism is folded in the manner shown in Figure 2, the side panels 23 of the top being folded inwardly with the outermost panel overlappingthe two side panels as shown and the flaps 17 and side panels 14 on the base portion `are first folded inwardly in a manner to overlie the panel 14, and in this position, the panel 14 with the flaps is folded inwardly to overlie the main panel of the base portion 13. After the side panels and iiaps have been folded, the end panel 15 is then folded over to cverlie the main panel 13 and portions of the side panels 14 and flap 17. Vhen thus folded, the box is folded intermediate its length on the hinge 21 whereby the end flap 16 is folded over in the same manner as the end flap 15, but it carries with it the entire top portion 12 in its folded form to overlie the entire base portion. In this form, the box is ready to be packed and shipped or stored.

The material from which these boxes are made is usually of a heavy pasteboard or similar material suitable for this use, which will V have inherent resilience of an extent that will permit it to spring back into its original position when it is once given an initial shape. The box as folded in the manner described in connection with Figure 2 is done at the factory and through suitable instrumentalities is made to effect a. setting of the material in this position, which will result in a tendency to seek and remain in this position in thevevent the parts are moved outwardly as in the setting up operation.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that my invention provides a box on which flaps 17 are provided on the ends of the side walls rather than on the end walls, and in this particular, it forms a more uniform distribution of thereinforcement in that the two Haps 17, which are adjacent the end panel 16, form a reinforcement for panel 16 when in set up position. nThis is particularly advantageous in that it is customary to provide flaps hinged at the ends of the panel 16 rather than in the manner Ashown in this invention, in which case the side walls, such as panels 14, will receive triple reinforcement when the box is closed and the iiap 23 overlaps, leaving the end panel 16 with a. single thickness of material.' rIhe placing of the flap 17 on the ends of the side panels 14 is also advantageous in connection with this invention for the reason that it forms props for the end walls 14 in opposition to the tendency toward an in-l ward position caused by the resilience of the material. I/Vhen the side walls 14 are in vertical position as when they are set up, the edge of the side panels or walls 14 together with the flaps 17, which are disposed at right angles to the side walls 14, form an abutment which supports the end walls 15 and 16 which also possess a tendency to seek and remain in an inward position, whereby the various walls are caused to assume by their natural resilience a vertical or set up position. The top portion has its panels 23 formed with an initial tendency to seek and remain in an inward position whereby when the top is caused to fit over the bottom portion of the box, as shown in Figure 3, the side panels 23 by their inherent resilience are caused to tightly hug the side walls of the base portion.

In setting up the box, the operator opens the folded blank to the position shown in Figure 2, and then he grasps the side panels 14 and lifts them to the vertical position against the opposition of their tendency to remain inwardly. In this position, he moves the flaps 17 to the right angular position shown in Figure 3 against the inherent tendency of said iiaps which causes them to assume a position inwardly of the right angular position, at which time the lower edge of the flap 17 engages frictionally with the main panel 13. This frictional engagement is caused by the pressure of the walls 14 inwardly which is opposed by the bottom edge of the iap. The'frictional engagement keeps the flap'from folding in against the side panel 14 and the flaps 17 so held supp-ort the side panel 14 in upright position. During the outward movement of the side panels 14, the end panel 15 is forced outwardly when the panels 14 are raised to set up position by engagement with the overlapped portion of the side panels 14 and due to its inward tendency caused by the inherent resilience of the material, it is left and maintained in its proper position merely by establishing the upright position of the walls 14. A similar result takes place in regard to the end panel 16 which has a tendencyv toward the inward position and it will be noted that each of the panels 14 andthe flap 17 form abutments for resisting .inwards movement past the vertical set up position for the end walls 15 and 16. I/Vhen in this position` the merchandise is placed in the box which further assures against the inward movement of the iap 17 and consequently the maintenance of the set up position, and then the top 12 is folded over by merely holding the flaps 23 outwardly during the closing for a period sufficiently long to cause the flaps to overlap the side walls of the base portion. Vihen the top is in the closed position shown in Figure 3 the side flaps 23 on the top, are caused to tightly hug the side walls of the base portion. The box in this form may be tied with a string or wrapped in paper as desired, the box being adequately reinforced by the relationship of the panels and flaps to prevent crushing or collapsing.

It can be readily understood from the above description and the drawing that I have provided a box which may be folded to a flat formation, permitting a plurality of said boxes to be shipped or stored with a minimum of space consumed, and also one which may be quickly and securely set up, and embodying the various other advantages set forth above. Also, I have provided a box embodying the above enumerated features together with the feature of being capable of assuming and maintaining its set up position by virtue of its inherent properties and without the employment of any interlocking or holding flaps, sticking, gluing, or similar agencies. The box by virtue of its structure is maintained in set up position by merely moving the parts to that position.

I claim:

l. In a folding box, a portion comprising a main panel having side and end panels connected thereto, said side and end panels having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the vertical position, said side panels being provided with end flaps having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the right angular position relative to said side panels whereby when said flaps are moved to a position at right angles to said side panels they remain in position by the frictional engagement with said main panel caused by said inward tendency of the side panel and in turn support the side panels in vertical position in opposition to the inward tendency thereof, said flaps and edges of said side panelsin set up position operating to support the end panels in opposition to the inward tendency thereof.

2. A folding box comprising a main panel having other panels connected to the edges thereof, said other panels having atendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the set up position and being provided with flaps at its ends, said flaps having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the right angular position relative to said other panels whereby the flaps may be moved outwardly in which position they are maintained by frictional engagement with said main panel and form supports for holding said other panels in set up position in opposition to their tendency to seek an inward position.

3. In a folded box, top and bottom portions, said bottom portion comprising a main panel and side and end panels, said side and end panels having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the set up position, said side panels having end flaps thereon having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the right angular position relative to said side panels,

and said top portion comprising side andend panels having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the set up position.

4,-. In a folded box, top and bottom portions, said bottom portion comprising a main panel and side and'end panels, said side and end panels having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the set up position, said vside panels having end flaps thereon having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the right angular position relative to said side panels, and said top portion comprising side and end panels having a tendency to seek and remain in a position inwardly of the set up position and connected through a common'end panel to said main panel of said bottom portion.

5. A folded box comprising top and bottom portions, said bottom portion comprising a main panel and side and end panels, said side panels having flaps at its ends folded over onto said side panels, and said side panels and flaps being folded overonto said main panel, said end panels being folded over onto said main panel and side panels, said top portion comprising a main panel connected to one of said endpanels and having Ypanels on its sides and opposite end, folded inwardly onto its under surface, said top portion being folded with the connecting end panelto overlie the folded bottom portion whereby a flat folded box is formed.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 10th day of March, 1927. i

` Y DANIEL NELSON. 

